UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 21, 2013 at 11 a.m.)—Snow? What snow? Rather, there is plenty of snow on the ground for snow play but only sunshine and off-and-on clouds in the sky now. Roads are open but motorists are cautioned that melt can result in dangerous icy patches. Drive slowly and carefully on Mil Potrero Highway’s mountain roads and Frazier Mountain Park Road’s bridges.
UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 20, 2013 at 11:10 a.m.)— Interstate 5 (The Grapevine) is now open in north and south directions with no escorts needed. CHP is advising the public to be aware of high gusty winds in the area and to drive safely.
UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 20, 2013 at 10:20 a.m.)— CHP is escorting southbound traffic over the Grapevine from Grapevine Road.
UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 20, 2013 at 9:15 a.m.)— CHP is now escorting motorists northbound from Parker Road in Castaic, over the Grapevine. Southbound Interstate 5 is still closed at Grapevine Road.
UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 20, 2013 at 6:53 a.m.)— The Grapevine has just been closed by California Highway Patrol due to blowing snow. Mountain area schools are closed today.
UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 20, 2013 at 6 a.m.)— The Interstate 5 Grapevine is open. High wind advisories are still in effect for high profile vehicles, but there are no travel restrictions. Here is the updated 7-day forecast from the National Weathr Service:
7-DAY FORECAST (as of 6:20 a.m Wednesday morning)
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 35 mph decreasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the morning.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the evening.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming north northeast in the morning.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a east wind 15 to 20 mph.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
UPDATE LEBEC and GORMAN, CA (February 19, 2013 at 9 p.m.)—High wind advisory from Templin highway to Gorman is in effect. Some snow has fallen in Frazier Park. The Grapevine is open.
7-DAY FORECAST
Tonight, Tuesday: Snow showers, mainly before 4am. Low around 22. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Wednesday A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the morning.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the evening.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming north northeast in the morning.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 50. North northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy, with a east wind 15 to 20 mph.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
UPDATE PINE MOUNTAIN, CA (February 19, 2013 at 5 p.m.)—Solid snow has just begun to fall in the Pine Mountain community at the higher elevations at about 5,500-6,500 feet. There is already snow cover on the mountain tops and slopes at about 7,000 feet. Meanwhile, reports are that snow has not yet reached Lebec or Frazier Park.
FRAZIER PARK, CA (February 17, 2013 at 12:50 p.m.)—Below is a National Weather Service bulletin, followed by the 7-day report for this area.
A Winter Storm Warning above 2000 feet remains in effect from 10 am this morning to 10 am PST Wednesday for the Kern County mountains.
* Snow accumulations: 1 to 3 inches above 2500 feet. 4 to 7 inches above 5000 feet.
* Elevation: above 2000 feet.
* Timing: snow will begin by midday today with the heaviest snow in the afternoon and overnight. Snow will decrease Wednesday morning.
* Locations include: Tehachapi… Lake Isabella… Pine Mountain Club… Frazier Park… Bear Valley Springs… Lebec… Kernville.
* Winds: southwest 25 to 35 mph. Gusts up to 75 mph over the ridges and through favorably oriented passes and canyons.
* Impacts: snow may make roads impassable and will lower visibilities. Winds will create areas of blowing and drifting snow… and could make travel difficult. Roads impacted include Interstate 5 over the Grapevine.
7-DAY FORECAST
Tuesday Rain likely before 10am, then snow. Snow level 5400 feet lowering to 4600 feet. High near 44. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tuesday Night Snow showers. Low around 24. Blustery, with a northwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Wednesday A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.
Thursday A slight chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night A chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 4800 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind around 15 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
This is part of the February 15, 2013 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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